Source: www.smartcitiesdive.com, Ryan Kushner, Editor, First Published March 17th, 2026
Decatur, Georgia, could see as many as 10,000 visitors a day during the FIFA World Cup soccer events in nearby Atlanta, according to an economic impact report.
Atlanta will host eight matches during the FIFA World Cup, which runs from June 11 to July 19 in multiple cities around the globe, including 10 other U.S. metro areas.
Decatur is about 6 miles outside of Atlanta, and its economic impact report gives a hint of the ripple effects the events may have outside of their host cities.
Thomas Smith, an economist and finance professor at the Goizueta Business School at Emory University, who conducted the economic impact study, noted that Decatur’s WatchFest will capitalize on the events without depending solely on international visitors.
“Decatur will market WatchFest 26 as an authentic experience, a more relaxed and affordable alternative to viewing the matches live in Atlanta,” Smith wrote. “It will be especially accessible to people familiar with Atlanta’s public transit [systems] and U.S. residents within driving range.”
The festival will offer free music, games and activities around the city’s newly renovated Decatur Square.
Visitors are expected to spend nearly $500 per day at restaurants and other local attractions during the games, according to the analysis. The study anticipates the events will generate up to $5.9 million in additional wages.
FIFA’s economic impact study predicts 6.5 million U.S. and international World Cup attendees and an overall $30 billion bump to the U.S. economy, according to Decatur’s report. The Atlanta Sports Council predicted the games will generate as much as $500 million in economic benefits for Atlanta.
